CAMP ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan — A drug suspect shot and wounded a bystander on September 19 to elude, to no avail, pursuing policemen after a drug sting.

Reports reaching Colonel Relly Arnedo, the Bulacan police director, have identified the suspect as Florante Cruz, alias Enteng. He was entrapped in an anti-drug operation around 10:30 pm in Barangay Panginay, Balagtas town.

However, Cruz sensed that he was transacting with an undercover police and tried to escape by shooting Marc Rafael Encarnacion, a bystander, resulting in a brief chase and eventual arrest of the suspect.

Encarnacion, sustained a gunshot wound in the leg and was rushed to the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos for medical treatment.

Police recovered the caliber 9mm pistol loaded with four bullets that Cruz used in the shooting and approximately 2.5 grams of suspected shabu that has a street value of P17,000.

The suspect has been placed under the custody of the Balagtas Police Station, facing charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 and Republic Act 10591.